Lillian Young

History is a vast expanse of different perspectives, as the saying goes there are two sides to every story. It is essential to recognize that more times than not, the people in power will have their history told or manipulate history to make themselves look better. In my artwork, I try to explore the moments, people, and objects that aren’t well-known in mainstream history. More specifically, I explore moments in African-American history.

Growing up, my family made sure that I was well-educated about the struggles, victories, and heroes in our history. Learning those stories help feed my love for history, and realize that the history that I know is not necessarily what my peers know. I learned about Emmett Till and the 16th Street bombing from my parents, but in school, they were barely mentioned. My art often incorporates text, preferably handwritten, to connect viewers to more in-depth information surrounding specific events.